Hello, everyone! I’m back in non-hospital world again, and it’s nice to be here! I worked all but two of the last eight days, so my regular world life has been a little neglected.
(This would not be true if my shifts were shorter, but 12-13 hour days mean that I do basically nothing else on days I work!)
ANYWAY.
I spent a little time this morning catching up on responding to comments, but then I decided I should switch to writing a post. So here we are.
This week, I am thankful:
for a funny viral post experience
I made a quick little “Yay, I got my dream car!” slideshow post for Instagram (which also automatically posts to Threads) and for whatever reason, the posts took off, especially on Instagram.
As of this morning, 652,000 people have viewed it, and there are almost 2400 comments.
The wild thing is: they are almost all kind and supportive.
This is shocking because usually, when a post gets shown to so many non-followers, the comments become rather unhinged.
But somehow, my post made it to all the nice car guys, and their comments made me giggle.
“Maam, this is a W.” “This car is goated!” “A Honda Civic? You, ma’am, are a woman of culture.”
I think it’s so funny (and sweet) that these young car guys are out here cheering on a middle-aged mom who bought a Civic. I love it.
A Civic is an unusual dream car, so I would not have been remotely surprised if I’d gotten ridiculed. But there are only a tiny handful of people who were like, “What a dumb dream car.”
So, a thumbs up to all the sweet people out there who cheered me on!
for some days off
The upside of having so many shifts so close together is that now I have seven days off of hospital shifts! Yay! I’m gonna rest, and also address the neglected aspects of my non-hospital life.
When I got home last night, one of my friends sent this to a group chat.
I sent this back, because my NYE outfit was equally un-fancy!
And after I took the photo, I showered and went straight to bed. 9:30 pm was as far as I could make it. Ha.
for the way my discharges worked out
I worked the last three days, and all of my patients stayed until yesterday, when I discharged 4/5 of them. I love when it works out that way; the patients get nice continuity of care, and it also makes my job easier.
(In contrast, sometimes during a string of shifts, it’s more like a revolving door with many discharges and admits, and that makes for a much wilder experience.)
that I’m able to help out my co-workers
We also say that nursing is a team sport, and I am happy that I’m competent enough to be helpful to my co-workers now!
In the last few days, I helped some with dressing changes, med administration, and I helped a newly admitted patient get settled last night, so that the night nurse could finish getting report.
(Sometimes, patients get sent to us right at shift change, which is very discombobulating for everyone involved.)
that my friend works on my unit
Brittany and I happened to be in a prereq class together in the fall of 2022, and then we also happened to start nursing school at the same time.
Then she became a tech on my unit, and now we are new grad nurses together on my unit. 🙂
picture posted with her permission 🙂
I love how our paths have kept crossing, and I love the way our friendship spans generations (she is a good 25 years younger than me!)
for the happy events of this past year
I listed all of those yesterday, but I want to give them a nod in today’s post too! I’m starting 2026 with a degree and a license I didn’t have a year ago, and I’m thankful.
for a year of saying the quiet part out loud on Patreon
A year ago, I started my Patreon community, and it’s been lovely for me to have a semi-private place to write about my marriage and divorce, and to talk about the things I kept quiet for so long.
I know it has helped me, and I hope that the words I share there help others as well.
for all of you
I appreciate you guys so very much! The way you have cheered me on through these last few years of major changes is no small thing, and I feel so so lucky to have all of you on my team.
What other nursing student has ever been so supported?? I had the largest group of cheerleaders ever. 🙂
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
JD
Thursday 1st of January 2026
Happy New Year! I am enjoying the fact that I don’t have to be back at work till Monday, and starting next week, I will work only 3 days a week through January, possibly February. I might drop to two days a week in February. Then I’m done.
1. I’m thankful that my DD 2 and her daughter had a safe flight to Washington state to visit her old friend even though they had delays. And that their delayed flight got them an upgrade when they finally got seated on a plane. I’m always thankful that the friend they are flying to see has been DD2’s best friend for their entire lives, so 40 years now. That’s a gift.
2. I’m thankful for the nice little NYE get together at DD1’s house yesterday. It included 4 young children , 2 of whom had to show me their new basketball skills, which is a perfect way to celebrate, if you ask me.
3. I will again mention my neighbor’s removal of the dead tree from my yard. He still has work to do in his own yard and he’s in his eighties so this is a real blessing that he took time out for me.
4. I’m thankful for the bright sun on this chilly day.
5. I’m thankful for quiet times to reflect, pray and plan. After 8 years of 11-13 hour days, when you include my commute, working full time, having time to sit is pure delight.
Amanda in VA
Thursday 1st of January 2026
I'm so profoundly grateful today . . .
-That our family has had this last week off to spend together. The first couple of days with all four kids home felt like a lot, but I think it was because I was still wound tight from work and life. Once we got past the craziness of Christmas and now that we have been able to just sleep in and putter around the house for a few days, it has been pretty blissful.
-For the jobs I'm interviewing for and the jobs I've applied to. I have a lot to offer an employer, but for a lot of reasons both personal and systemic, this multi-year job search has been agonizing and unsuccessful. However, my current gig runs out this summer, so something will have to change. I'm grateful to have options and find myself somehow feeling optimistic about what may come in 2026.
-For my husband and our marriage, which has been my rock through these challenging years. I'm so joyful in my soul that hardship has inspired us to work together to solve problems. I don't know what I'd do without him.
-For going into 2026 in a better financial place than 2025. We were just about at the breaking point at this time last year. Since then we've made some major changes and experienced a little luck. We are not where we want to be yet, but we are getting there.
-For stability in our health. We've dealt with multiple scary health conditions in the last couple of years. But right now we are at a point where our doctors think I might be cancer-free and our daughter hasn't had a seizure in a year. Neither of us is out of the woods, but I am so grateful to see some light peaking through.
Cindi
Thursday 1st of January 2026
Enjoy your days off! Some bigger thankfuls for the past and coming years: Through a DNA match, we connected with twin nieces we didn't know we had. They are grown women with children of their own and we have formed such a sweet relationship with them. It's been wonderful. I pretty much retired the last quarter of 2025 but it's official now. A new chapter for me. (My husband has been retired 11 years and I was self-employed, so I'm not sure how much will change.) Our friend group keeps expanding, which is a delightful surprise at our age.
Maureen
Thursday 1st of January 2026
As always, this group of people are so thankful for you, Kristen! We love your positive outlook even when you feel low. It's nice to be able to communicate with everyone looking out for each other.
I am so thankful to be into 2026 because that means my working days are numbered. So looking forward to it. And my apologies if I keep harping on retirement. After spending 34 years at this company, it is time to say good-bye and enjoy life. I will not continue to work at this place just for the "comfort" of it like I have been. And nothing says comfort for working at home the past 22 years.
I am thankful for finding a gym that I absolutely love and the coaching that has helped me progress as much as I have. This year I plan to really work at mobility. I really need to move more and this will help. And I actually don't mind waking up at 6:00 AM just to go to the gym. Helps with the mentally of sitting in a chair all day!
I am thankful that along with the gym I have managed to lose almost 35 lbs. It's been hard and easy, but I have met many people along the way that help me. Here's to the next 40 lbs to come off in 2026.
And here is to coming back here each day and seeing so many of the same names. Even when I retire and I am not at my desk every day, it will be nice to see you all. Happy New Year!
Bee
Thursday 1st of January 2026
@Maureen, Congratulations on your weight loss. That's awesome. You can look forward to retirement and better health in 2026.
MB in MN
Thursday 1st of January 2026
This week I'm particularly thankful that we had a safe and uneventful 3-day road trip from Minnesota to Arizona. Whenever we take a trip by car or air I always think we could die, so I make sure to have all of our affairs in tip-top order. Am I the only one who thinks/does this?
Bee
Thursday 1st of January 2026
@MB in MN, I am glad you had a safe and uneventful trip. I love to travel and don't worry too much. However, there are two exceptions: 1) I hate to land when flying. I pray the whole time. 2) I am terrified whenever I have to drive through Atlanta. I think that it is the worst traffic any where.